Lebanon and Syria mend new fences Nov 11, 2008
They also blame Syria for the killing of Mr Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in a bombing in Beirut in 2005, and subsequent political assassinations. Bookmark with. (BBC News -- Africa)
TV 'confession' Nov 8, 2008
By Natalia Antelava BBC News, Beirut ... Mr Hariri's supporters in Beirut have already labelled the broadcast as a "festival of lies" but analysts here believe that these testimonies will weaken the position of Saad Hariri and his party ahead of the crucial parliamentary election in the spring. (BBC News)
Syrians stare terror in the face Nov 8, 2008
The Israeli occupation of Beirut in 1982 disenchanted millions of fighters in the Arab world, who turned to the only remaining and reliable source of inspiration that could unite them: Islam ... Contrary to what anti-Syrian media outlets are saying in Beirut, the Syrians did not tolerate him ... They are the real wolves at the doors of Damascus and when they stand at the gates of the Syrian capital - and can pull off a terrorist attack as the one on September 27 - this means that they have... (Asia Times Online)
Iran also ripe for change Nov 6, 2008
President Ronald Reagan was preoccupied with US hostages in Lebanon and the bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut; both were blamed on Hezbollah backed by Iran. Reagan's presidency was also seriously tested by the Iran-Contra affair. (Asia Times Online)
In the Middle East, 'everybody' is with Obama Nov 6, 2008
"The New Middle East talk had a negative effect on democracy in the Arab world. [The Bush administration] supported democracy with words, but they didn't take any concrete actions to help us," said Mohammed Abdullah, a 25-year-old Syrian dissident living in exile in Beirut. "Before, I think the Syrian people wanted democracy, but after Iraq they don't. They looked at Iraq and said, 'We're next if we don't support our leader.' ". (Globe and Mail -- International)
Leading U.S. & Lebanese Women Executives to Discuss Strategic Planning in Beirut, Lebanon, November 6-7, 2008 Nov 5, 2008
Leading U.S. ese Women Executives to Discuss Strategic Planning in Beirut, Lebanon, November 6-7, 2008 ... Leading U.S. ese Women Executives to Discuss Strategic Planning in Beirut, Lebanon, November 6-7, 2008 ... 5th in a Series of "Corporate Ambassador" Events Emphasizes Opportunities between U.S. and Middle Eastern and North African Women CEOs WASHINGTON and BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leading Lebanese and U.S. women business leaders will meet November 6-7 to explore... (PR Newswire)
Exiled Hamas Leader Takes Rare Trip to Beirut Nov 4, 2008
BEIRUT, Lebanon The exiled leader of the Palestinian militant Hamas group voiced support Monday for upcoming national reconciliation talks with the rival Fatah faction. The Syria-based Khaled Mashaal spoke during a rare visit to Beirut after holding talks with top Lebanese leaders. (Fox News)
In Lebanon, pragmatism tempers jihadist aims Nov 4, 2008
"They are showing the same pragmatism as other Islamist groups that have moved from radicalism to a more mainstream approach," says Omayma Abdel-Latif of the Carnegie Endowment's Middle East Center in Beirut ... Sheikh Khattab, who holds a degree in business administration from the American University of Beirut and speaks fluent English, smiles often during the conversation. (Christian Science Monitor)
Next year's travel hot spots Nov 4, 2008
Just about anything could happen in Beirut in 2009 - from covert political assassinations to airborne invasions by foreign powers and, more probably, the opening of the hippest beach bar in the Middle East ... Despite its weakness for all that's new, Beirut is not entirely about the hottest, priciest and glitziest. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Exiled Hamas chief to meet Lebanese leaders Nov 4, 2008
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- The self-exiled leader of Hamas' political wing is meeting on Monday with leaders of Lebanon's Western-backed government, a Hamas spokesman said ... It is a rare trip to Beirut by Khaled Meshaal, the leader of the Palestinian militant group who has lived in exile in Syria's capital, Damascus, since 2001 ... Meshaal is scheduled to issue a public statement in Beirut later in the day, the spokesman said. (CNN -- World)
Questions raised over Syrian complicity in US raid Nov 3, 2008
bernard ross, st anns bay, jamaica. you are over estimating the man,he does not know the meaning of the word,he has no doctrine and why should he when he has God almighty to his side and he receives commands and massages from him during the night. (Times Online)
Calls for moderation, unity mark opening of Lebanon mosque Nov 2, 2008
BEIRUT, Lebanon Calls for unity and religious moderation from Muslim and Christian leaders marked the opening of Lebanon s biggest mosque in the heart of the capital ... The mosque, built Ottoman style with a sky blue central dome and towering minarets on its four corners, dominates downtown Beirut s skyline. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
* UNs Ban Ki-moon urges Hezbollah to turn political party Nov 1, 2008
Lebanon tried to ban the fiber-optic communication system but reversed its decision after Hezbollahs fighters and allies overran parts of Beirut and other areas in May, killing dozens in scenes reminiscent of Lebanons 1975 to 1990 civil war. Roed-Larsen said the communications network and Hezbollahs willingness to resort to armed action are a direct challenge to the fundamental authority of that government and its attempts to consolidate its sovereignty. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
LETTERS: NCT, Oct. 31, 2008 Nov 1, 2008
Barracks bombing in Beirut ignored ... This was the result of a suicide truck laden with explosives, carrying the equivalent of 20,000 pounds of TNT, that detonated on the ground floor of BLT 1/8 headquarters barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. (North County Times)
Assad's strategic decision to turn cheek Nov 1, 2008
But Mr. Assad in recent months appears to have made a strategic choice to come in from the cold by improving Syria's relations with Europe, opening diplomatic relations with the new government in Beirut and even flirting with Israel via back-channel peace talks over the Golan Heights. Though the Bush administration remains ideologically opposed to reconciling with Damascus, Syria has made no secret of its hope for better ties with the next administration, particularly if it's led by Barack... (Globe and Mail -- International)
Lebanese banks escape global crisis Nov 1, 2008
Instead, they have focused on lending billions of dollars to the government in Beirut at higher interest rates than the U.S. market. A decades-old banking secrecy that bans banks from disclosing their depositors continues to attract clients from around the Arab Middle East, who value the guaranteed protection. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Eating habits and obesity among Lebanese university students Oct 31, 2008
The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity on a sample of students from the Lebanese American University (in Beirut) and to examine their eating habits. Methods. (Nutrition Journal)
DNA legacy of ancient seafarers Oct 31, 2008
"People have not really looked at this heritage, and I think we ought to be looking more," Dr Pierre Zalloua, from the Lebanese American University in Beirut, Lebanon, told BBC News. Chris Tyler-Smith, co-author of the paper from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK, commented: "When we started, we knew nothing about the genetics of the Phoenicians. All we had to guide us was history. The researchers used historical information to focus their study "We knew where they had and... (BBC News -- Europe)
Researchers examine genetic links to ancient Phoenicians Oct 31, 2008
"We were lucky in one respect," said Pierre Zalloua, a geneticist at Lebanese American University in Beirut who was a principal author of the journal report. "So many Phoenician settlement sites were geographically close to non-Phoenician sites, making it easier to distinguish differences in genetic patterns.". (International Herald Tribune)
Recommended reading for the next president Oct 31, 2008
And, "Memory for Forgetfulness: August, Beirut, 1982," by the great Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, which records his experience as a civilian under bombardment in Lebanon. Finally, because civilians are so often women - and to better understand the intricate connection between gender, culture and war - I'd recommend a book by the Moroccan writer Fatima Mernissi, called "Scheherazade Goes West," and my own earlier book "A Chorus of Stones: The Private Life of War.". (San Francisco Chronicle)
Trail blazing Oct 30, 2008
This is how bad I am with early morning starts - our bus is winding into the hills above Beirut, sun streaming through the windows as we head for a day's hiking in the Bekaa Valley, and I realise that I have forgotten my sun-cream, water and picnic lunch ... Tourists who venture to Lebanon generally do not get far beyond Beirut. (BBC News -- Africa)
Thomas L. Friedman: Sleepless in Tehran Oct 30, 2008
"When you ask them where in the Middle East would you most like to live," he added, "the answer is usually socially open places like Dubai or Beirut. The Islamic Republic of Iran is never in the top 10.". . (International Herald Tribune)
Who made Bulgaria's mafia?; Lebanon revisited; The rise of Sarah Palin; Making it rich Oct 30, 2008
Both Robert McFarlane ("From Beirut to 9/11," Views, Oct. 24) and Randy Gaddo ("Beirut's bloody Sunday," Views, Oct. 24) connected the hasty pullout of the U.S. Marines from Beirut in 1983 to the subsequent rise of radical Islamic terrorism and 9/11 ... Those events contributed far more to the rise of Al Qaeda than the attacks in Beirut. (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
Lebanese adversaries speak of unity Oct 28, 2008
BEIRUT - Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has met his main political foe, Sunni majority leader Saad al-Hariri, for the first time since the war with Israel in 2006, according to a statement released yesterday. The two men were adversaries in an 18-month political conflict that brought Lebanon to the brink of civil war in May before Qatari mediation produced a deal that led to the election of a new president and formation of a national unity government. (Boston Globe)
Cleric Bakri barred from Britain Oct 28, 2008
The preacher left the UK six days ago on what he described as a holiday to see his mother in Beirut ... Regarding his arrest in Beirut, a Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said there had been an official request from the Syrian authorities "to surrender him to the security forces in Syria". (BBC News -- UK)
Rival Lebanese factions meet to defuse tensions Oct 28, 2008
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- Lebanon's top rival Sunni and Shiite Muslim leaders held a long-awaited meeting, the two sides' reported Monday, as part of efforts to defuse sectarian tensions in the country ... Long-simmering tensions between Hariri's Sunni supporters and Nasrallah's Shiite militants broke out into street fighting in Beirut in May that killed 81 people and nearly plunged Lebanon into another civil war. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
John Patrick Diggins Oct 28, 2008
In the 80s, Reagan withdrew from Lebanon with the same rationale: even though 241 Marines had been slaughtered in their barracks, the task force succeeded in doing the job it was sent to do in Beirut. Republicans have no trouble losing a war and calling it a victory, and some of them are voting for McCain for that reason. (The American Conservative)
Lebanon's Hariri and Nasrallah hold rare meeting Oct 27, 2008
The political crisis reached breaking point in May when Hezbollah and its allies briefly took control of the predominantly Muslim half of Beirut, sparking fighting with followers of rival leaders, including Hariri's. The statement said the meeting was "honest and open" and said the leaders would encourage dialogue "by taking steps to calm the situation in the media and in the street.". (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Study Station Project Keeps Children in School Oct 26, 2008
World Vision's 'Study Station Project' in the camp in the northern suburbs of Beirut provided children as young as eight with critical learning skills they need to stay in school. The educational level of Palestinian children is not comparable to that of Lebanese children or even to Palestinian children living in neighbouring Arab hosting countries. (AlertNet)
U.S. is resupplying Lebanon's military Oct 26, 2008
At the gates of the military base in Karantina, just north of Beirut, groups of soldiers drive in and out all day in new American Humvees and trucks, some of them toting gleaming new American rifles and grenade launchers. The weapons are the leading edge of a new American commitment to resupply the military of this small but pivotal Middle Eastern country, which emerged three years ago from decades of Syrian domination. (International Herald Tribune)
Hezbollah chief denies poison report Oct 26, 2008
BEIRUT: Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has denied an Iraqi website report that he had been poisoned and then saved by Iranian doctors ... Nasrallah, 48, was in "critical condition over the past few days," the report said, quoting diplomatic sources in Beirut. (India Times, India)
25th anniversary of Beirut bombing marked Oct 24, 2008
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - About 1,000 Marines and others at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina are honoring nearly 300 people who died when suicide bombers attacked a U.S. barracks in Beirut in 1983. The bombing occurred while Marines were part of an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon. (MSNBC -- International)
Somber memories Oct 24, 2008
Former Marine Jerry Wilkes holds an enlargement of a photo of him taken hours after the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983 ... Clifton Park man remembers 1983 Beirut Bombing ... CLIFTON PARK - Gerald "Jerry" Wilkes of Clifton Park drives a minivan with a Purple Heart license plate that reads "Beirut." He keeps the vanity plate because he does not want people to forget what happened there 25 years ago. (Community News Weekly, NY)
Statement by the President Oct 24, 2008
Twenty-five years ago a suicide bomb destroyed the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. We remember the 241 American Marines, soldiers, and sailors who lost their lives in that attack, and we pay tribute to their families and loved ones. (White House News Releases)
Lebanon I: From Beirut to 9/11 Oct 24, 2008
From Beirut to 9/11 - International Herald Tribune ... In 1983, the Marine battalion positioned at the Beirut Airport was assigned the mission of "presence"; that is, to lend moral support to the fragile Lebanese government. (International Herald Tribune)
Fresh clashes shake Lebanese city Oct 24, 2008
The Shia Islamist movement used its arsenal to briefly seize control of the capital, Beirut, and rout supporters of the pro-Western parliamentary majority in May. Ceasefire breached. (Yahoo News -- Lebanon)
Lebanese leader vows no surrender to violence Oct 24, 2008
in Beirut and agencies ... Lebanese soldiers guard a street in Beirut, Lebanon ... "They simply are demanding that we surrender, they want Beirut to raise white flags... This is impossible," he told a news conference after a week of violence between Hizbullah militias and pro-government gunmen that has left 81 people dead. (Yahoo News -- Lebanon)
Israel seeks Lebanon talks after Gaza pact Oct 24, 2008
An Israeli soldier at a border crossing point showing the distance to Jerusalem and Beirut. Photograph: David Furst/AFP. (Yahoo News -- Lebanon)
The lasting impact of 1983 Beirut attack Oct 24, 2008
Turning point: The massive suicide bombing at the US Marine barracks in Beirut killed 241 American servicemen on Oct. 23, 1983 ... Correspondent Nicholas Blanford describes the site of the US Marines barracks bombing when he arrived in Beirut and what's there today ... BEIRUT, Lebanon - The blast rippled across Beirut just after dawn, throwing Khodr Hammoud out of bed and stumbling to his front door. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
Beirut's bloody Sunday Oct 24, 2008
Beirut's bloody Sunday - International Herald Tribune ... Beirut's bloody Sunday ... I remember that the morning of Oct. 23, 1983, in Beirut was pleasant and sunny; there was a light breeze, and it was very quiet. (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
The Syrian-Lebanese embrace Oct 24, 2008
Damascus has formally recognized Lebanon's sovereignty and independence, but Beirut, in turn, has recognized that Syria - engaged in a dangerous confrontation with Israel - has certain vital security interests in Lebanon ... Syria's critics in Lebanon - and they account for about half the country - have had to concede that Syria will not tolerate the existence of a hostile government in Beirut ... A hostile government in Beirut - or a government under hostile foreign influence - would be like a... (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
New MasterCard Research Ranks 65 Cities in Emerging Markets Poised to Drive Long-Term Global Economic Growth Oct 23, 2008
To assist him in this research, Dr. Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Economic Advisor for MasterCard Worldwide, APMEA Region, initially assembled and chaired a panel of leading experts in economics, urban development and social-science from around the world, including the following: -- Professor Fan Gang, Director, National Economic Research Institute, Beijing -- Mr. Manu Bhaskaran, Partner/Head, Economic Research, Centennial Group, Singapore -- Professor William Lever, Emeritus Professor of Urban Studies,... (PR Newswire)
LESSONS OF BEIRUT Oct 23, 2008
IT was 25 years ago this morning that a suicide bomber blew up the Marine compound in Beirut, killing 241 men ... In August 2005, Mustafa Mohammad-Najjar (who'd been commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard expeditionary force that supported the Beirut attack in 1983) was named the new defense minister of Iran ... We could well find ourselves the target of a weapon of mass destruction right here in the United States that was planned and executed by some of the same players who carried out... (New York Post -- Opinions)
Letters to the Editor (Oct. 20) Oct 23, 2008
October 1983, 25 years ago, the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was blown up by Hezbollah, killing some 250 Marines and other military personnel and wounding another 100 ... Barefoot wrote on Oct 20, 2008 3:10 PM:" Obsession should be seenLet us not forget! October 1983, 25 years ago, the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was blown up by Hezbollah, killing some 250 Marines and other military personnel and wounding another 100.Already forgotten: Israel was aware of the plan to bomb the... (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Israeli Sources: Hezbollah Leader Poisoned Oct 23, 2008
net quoted high-ranking diplomatic sources in Beirut as saying that Nasrallah survived a poisoning attempt with a highly toxic chemical. Nasrallah suffered grave effects from the poison, and a team of 15 Iranian physicians was flown to Beirut to attend him, and eventually managed to stabilize his condition. (Newsmax)
Saudis resurrect a rival for Hezbollah Oct 21, 2008
This applies to places like al-Dahiya, the Hezbollah stronghold in the suburbs of Beirut, and cities like Baalbak ... Coinciding with this story and probably related to it, are unconfirmed reports saying that Michael Hayden, the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, went to Beirut for a secret mission, probably aimed at working towards crushing - or at least disarming - Hezbollah ... That coincided with another high-profile visit by US Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman to Beirut,... (Asia Times Online)
2008's best travel discoveries Oct 21, 2008
Still the Mediterranean's most dynamic and dysfunctional city, Beirut is full of boutique bars, cool galleries and polyglot architecture. And the food is sensational. (The Age, Australia -- Breaking News)
Are We Funding the Lebanese Army or Hizballah? Oct 20, 2008
The May attacks were launched in retaliation for the government s firing of the Beirut airport security chief (connected to Hizballah) and the government s attempt to shut down Hizballah s extensive private telecommunications network linking Hizballah command posts in Beirut and in south Lebanon with Teheran and Damascus ... Nevertheless, on Oct. 6, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Mary Beth Long and Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr initiated the... (Human Events Online)
Report: falling commodity cost helps Lebanese economy Oct 20, 2008
BEIRUT, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese economists said that the fall in oil prices and depreciation of the euro helped stimulate Lebanon's economy, local Daily Star reported Monday ... Bank of Beirut announced at closure last week that its net profit has risen by 74 percent in 2008. (Xinhuanet, China)
Billboard truce: Beirut scraps irksome posters Oct 18, 2008
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- In polarized Lebanon, flaunting a political leader's poster can be enough to spark a gunfight. So shopkeepers on Beirut's al-Maamoun Street are breathing a little easier now that "poster disarmament" has been declared ... Most of the posters once plastered on Beirut's walls and lampposts have come down by agreement between the main factions of Shiite and Sunni Muslims - part of a broader attempt to ease nearly three years of sectarian and political tensions that almost... (FOX 11, AZ)
Deeply Affecting Oct 18, 2008
Landing in Beirut, Zeina is rebuffed by every cab driver she asks to ferry her into the center of war ("too dangerous. ... No one will take you there"), but when a driver named Tony (Georges Khabbaz) agrees, the stage is set for a cross-country trip that is dangerous, emotionally wrenching and - at least for the audience - occasionally beautiful. As details of the characters' lives are revealed - Tony is Christian, rarely sees his sons and has a brother in Israel; Zeina is Shiite but only... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Editor's Mailbag (Oct. 16) Oct 18, 2008
In October of 1983, 25 years ago, the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was blown up by Hezbollah, killing some 250 Marines and other military personnel and wounding another 100 ... Barefoot wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:45 PM:" Let us not forget! In October of 1983, 25 years ago, the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was blown up by Hezbollah, killing some 250 Marines and other military personnel and wounding another 100. Hezbollah is largely funded by Iran and is now an influential part of the... (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Extremists turn their wrath on Syria, Lebanon Oct 17, 2008
(10-16) 04:00 PDT Beirut ... In the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, a reporter recently encountered a commander of Iraq's Mahdi Army militia enjoying R p. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Obama is what we need Oct 17, 2008
Wake up and smell the terrorist wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:53 AM:" A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality that they imagine that America can suffer defeat without any inconvenience to themselves.Pause a moment, reflect back.These events are actual events from history. They really happened!!! Do you remember?1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by a Muslim male extremist.2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by Muslim male extremists.3. In... (Rockingham Daily Journal, NC)
Editor's Mailbag (Oct. 16) (14) Oct 17, 2008
In October of 1983, 25 years ago, the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was blown up by Hezbollah, killing some 250 Marines and other military personnel and wounding another 100. Hezbollah is largely funded by Iran and is now an influential part of the Lebanon government. (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Report: Nixon, Ford helped destabilize Iran Oct 17, 2008
BEIRUT, Lebanon - A new report based on previously classified documents suggests that the Nixon and Ford administrations created conditions that helped destabilize Iran in the late 1970s and contributed to the country's Islamic revolution. A trove of transcripts, memos and other correspondence show sharp differences developing between the Republican administrations and Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi over rising oil prices in the mid-1970s, said a report to be published Friday in the fall issue of... (AZCentral -- News)
Lebanon demining program running out of money Oct 17, 2008
This week, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut said the U.S. government will provide US$825,000 to demining programs in Lebanon, bringing the total of U.S. assistance for non-proliferation, anti-terrorism and demining activities in the Mideast country to US$16 million since 2006, according to the U.S. Embassy. But Hussam Hijazieh, who also works for BACTEC, said this was not enough. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
Christians can’t vote for Obama (845) Oct 16, 2008
wrote on Oct 15, 2008 9:29 AM:" A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality that they imagine that America can suffer defeat without any inconvenience to themselves.Pause a moment, reflect back.These events are actual events from history. They really happened!!! Do you remember?1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by a Muslim male extremist.2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by Muslim male extremists.3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was... (Rockingham Daily Journal, NC)
Syria and Lebanon formalise ties Oct 16, 2008
Syria's determination not to open an embassy in Beirut - as well as its stationing tens of thousands of troops in Lebanon until 2005, ostensibly as peacekeepers - was seen as a refusal to recognise Lebanese sovereignty and independence ... But tensions were raised again in September when Syria deployed 10,000 troops on the northern Lebanese border, prompting anti-Syria politicians in Beirut to raise the possibility of an invasion. (BBC News -- Africa)
Kiss and make up Oct 16, 2008
After Hariri's killing, huge anti-Syrian protests in Beirut and massive international pressure led Syria to pull its troops out of Lebanon. This fulfilled UN Security Council Resolution 1559, calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces in Lebanon. (BBC News -- Africa)
Closing the curtain on war Oct 16, 2008
Across the street from my building in Beirut, there's a bakery that doubles as the local office of a Sunni political party ... After 18 months of political deadlock, word went out that the Shiite militia Hezbollah was dispatching hundreds of fighters into the largely Sunni areas of West Beirut. (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
Bombing in Beirut still resonates Oct 16, 2008
Sgt. Stephen Russell was sitting in his guard booth outside a barracks in Beirut ... For Americans, Beirut was a seminal moment on a timeline that led to the 9/11 attacks, Afghanistan, Iraq and beyond ... The Beirut bombing "cut a hole in the soul of the Marine Corps," says Jack Matthews, a retired lieutenant colonel who commanded the Marine battalion before the bombing and later wrote a doctoral dissertation about it. (USA Today)
Syria to open embassy in Beirut Oct 15, 2008
The presidential decree did not say when the embassy would open in Beirut or give any further details ... The decree announced "the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic and the creation of a diplomatic mission at ambassador level in the Lebanese capital Beirut," Syria's official news agency reported ... But tensions have been raised again since September when Syria deployed 10,000 troops on the northern Lebanese border, prompting... (BBC News)
McCain's 'crusader' logic concerns Syria Oct 15, 2008
The parallel between 1955-1958 and 2005-2008 is haunting; bombs would explode in Beirut, and everybody would blame it on the Syrians. The US encouraged its regional allies to take action against Syria, saying that it would support any covert or overt anti-Syrian activity under Article 51 of the UN charter: self-defense. (Asia Times Online)
Syria Recognizes Lebanon Oct 15, 2008
The foreign ministries of both countries said embassies would be set up in Damascus and Beirut before the end of the year. Relations between the two Arab nations have been lopsided in Syria's favor since the 1970s, when Syria sent its army into Lebanon and retained control there for nearly 30 years. (Fox News)
